Valve control



Dec. 7, 1965 1'. THOMAS 3, 2

VALVE CONTROL Filed July 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 30 36 la TomThomas .1 I INVENTOR. m M/ WM...

WWW Em Dec. 7, 1965 T. THOMAS 3,221,425

, VALVE CONTROL Filed July 51, 1962 i Sheets-Sheet a Tom Thomas I N VENTOR.

BY @Mm WWW mm United States Patent 3,221,425 VALVE CONTROL Tom Thomas,1963 Pasadena St, Houston, Tex. Filed Judy 31, 1962, Ser. No. 213,672 13Qiaims. (Ci. 37-143) The present invention generally relates to ahydraulic valve control device and more particularly to such a deviceprimarily but not necessarily limited to use in combination with earthworking equipment such as a subgrade planer disclosed in Patent No.2,901,843 issued September 1, 1959 for Subgrade Planer, Graders and theLike.

The primary object of the present valve control is to enable earthworking equipment such as heavy grading equipment, planers or the liketo operate from a predetermined or set grade line in the form of a cordor string that is set from grade stakes employed by highway engineers.The present invention is disclosed as being used on a subgrade planerbut the invention encompasses the use of the valve control mechanism orvarious pieces of equipment employing an earth working blade orimplement.

The present invention includes a novel control mechanism for a four-wayhydraulic control valve that is used to control the position of a planerblade or the like with the valve control being responsive to movement ofan actuating rod which rests on the grade line with very little pressureexerted on the line or cord so that it will stay at the predeterminedgrade. The actuating rod includes wheels rollingly engaging a drumcarried by the spindle of a four-way hydraulic valve with the drum andwheels being normally rotatable about parallel axes whereby orientationof the wheels connected to the actuating rod so that the axis ofrotation thereof is angularly orientated in relation to the axis ofrotation of the drum will cause longitudinal movement of the drum andspindle which supports the drum for controlling the position of thevalve spindle thereby controlling the four-way hydraulic valve forraising or lowering the earth working blade to which the mechanism isattached thereby providing automatic control for the blade or otherearth working component of the machine with which the present inventionis associated.

The components constituting the present invention are relatively simplein construction, dependable, easy to assemble and disassemble, accuratein operation and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a subgrade planer having thevalve control of the present invention incorporated therein;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmental plan view of the construction of FIGURE 1illustrating the relationship of the valve control mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a detail end elevational view of the fourway hydraulic valveand the control mechanism therefor;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the construction of FIGURE 3 withportions thereof broken away illustrating the construction of the valvecontrol;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken substantially upon aplane passing along section line 5-5 of FIG- URE 3 illustrating therelationship of the cylindrical drum and the friction wheels engagingthe same; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmental plan view with portions in section illustratingthe orientation of the friction wheels for causing movement of therotating spindle of the hydraulic valve in a reciprocatory manner.

3,221,425 Patented Dec. 7, 1%65 Referring now specifically to thedrawings, the numeral it generally designates the subgrade planerincorporating the valve control of the present invention therein whichis 7 generally designated by numeral 12. The exact details of thesubgrade planer are not important to the present invention except thatthe details are disclosed for the purposes of disclosing a completestructure. The planer includes a mobile frame 14 having ground engagingwheels 16 journaled on axles 13 thereon. A forwardly extending tongue 20is provided with a suitable hitch for connection to a suitable towingimplement such as a tractor or the like. The frame 14 may be supportedin any convenient manner on any type of vehicular structure or the like.Disposed below and intermediate the length of the frame 14 is a planerblade 24 of any suitable construction and which includes a transversemember 26 connected with the lower ends of a pair of verticallyreciprocating piston rods 28 which extend into a pair of piston andcylinder assemblies 30 attached to the frame 14 in any suitable mannersuch as by mounting brackets 32. A stabilizing support member 34 mayinterconnect a portion of the transverse member 26 and the frame 14 fororientation of the planer blade 24 in the desired inclined relation tothe ground surface. The details of the planer blade and the framestructure are more clearly disclosed in prior Patent No. 2,901,843. Asuitable pump assembly for supplying hydraulic pressure to the pistonand cylinder assemblies 3%} is provided and is schematically illustratedin the drawings and designated by numeral 36 whereby hydraulic pressuremay be admitted into the lower ends of the cylinder assemblies 30 forraising and lowering of the planer blade 24. These cylinder assembliesmay be double acting to down crowd the planer blade if desired or theforce of gravity may be relied upon to cause downward movement of theplaner blade with the hydraulic fluid serving to raise the planer bladeto a desired elevation thereby maintaining a balanced support for theplaner blade. In the hydraulic system for orientating the planer blade,there is provided a four-way hydraulic valve generally designated bynumeral 38 carried by a mounting plate 40 attached to the transversemember 26 in any suitable manner whereby movement of the planer blade 24and the transverse member 26 will cause the valve 3%; to move therewith.

The four-way hydraulic valve 33 is of conventional construction in thatit includes inlet and outlet conduits 42 connected with a valve body orblock 44 supported by angle iron members 46 on the mounting plate 40.The vaive block 44 receives a spindle 43 which is reciprocable and alsorotatable and the ends of the spindle 48 project beyond the ends of thevalve block or body 44. The four-way hydraulic valve is a conventionalcommercially available structure which includes a neutral centralposition and selectively communicates the inlets and outlets at the twoextreme positions of the reciprocating movement thereof.

One end of the shaft or spindle 48 is provided with a slot 50 whichreceives the flattened end of a shaft or rod 52 extending through andjournaled in a bearing block 54 supported on the supporting plate 41}. Apulley 56 is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 52 and is engaged bya V-belt 58 driven from a suitable motor 60 which may be an electricmotor or a hydraulic fluid motor supported from the plate 4!), thetransverse member 26 or any other suitable structure for the purpose ofsupporting the motor 6b which continuously drives the shaft 52 thuscausing rotation of the spindle 48. On each side of the bearing block54, a spring 62 is provided which engage with abutments 64 to centralizethe spindle or spool in the neutral or normal position.

The opposite end of the spindle or spool 48 is provided with acylindrical drum 66 which faces longitudinally outwardly. The drum 66 isrigidly affixed to the spindle or spool 48 for rotation therewith andreciprocat ng movement of the spindle 48 is caused by correspondingmovement of the drum 65.

Connecting means including a pair of longitudinally extending supportbrackets 68 and it? which are attached to the valve body or block 44 byfastening members 72 is provided and further includes a U-shaped supportmember 74 having the free ends of the legs inturned as designated bynumeral 76. One of the legs of the U-shaped support member is disposedinteriorly of th drum 66 and the other is disposed adjacent the free endof the support bracket '70. The support bracket 68 has a U-shaped endportion 78 terminating in a portion parallel to one leg of the U-shapedsupport member. The connecting means still further includes a pivot bolt89 interconnecting the terminal portion of the bracket 63 and the leg ofthe U-shaped support which extends into the drum 6% and also a similarpivot bolt 82 in alignment with the pivot bolt 86 interconnects theother leg of the U-shaped support 74 and the terminal end of the bracket74) whereby the U-shaped support may pivot about an axis transverse ofthe drum 6th and this axis passes through the center of rotation of thedrum 66. Rotatably journaled on the inwardly extending portion of eachleg of the U-shaped support 74 is a friction wheel 84 and each frictionwheel is provided with a resilient tire or rim 86 in rolling engagementwith the interior and exterior surface of the drum as illustrated inFIGURES 4-6. The friction wheels 84 are rotatably journaled on axlemembers 83 which are parallel to each other and may be angled inrelation to the axis of rotation of the drum 66 or may be parallelthereto. When the axes of rotation of the wheels 84 are parallel to theaxis of the drum 66, the drum 66 will remain stationary insofar asreciprocating movement is concerned while it is being rotated by virtueof the pulley 56. However, when the U-shaped support 74 is pivoted andthe axes defined by the axles 84 are orientated in angular relation tothe axis of rotation of the drum 66, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, thedrum 66 along with the spindle or spool 48 will be caused to moveinwardly or outwardly in relation to the valve body depending upon thedirection of pivotal movement of the U-shaped support member 54.

Motion transmitting means in the form of an actuating rod 96 is carriedby a bracket 92 rigid with the pivot bolt 82 which is also rigid withthe U-shaped support 74 whereby pivotal movement of the actuating rod 93will cause corresponding pivotal movement of the U-shaped support 74. Acounterbalance weight 94 is adjustably secured on the actuating rod 99at one end thereof and the outer end engages a guide line or string Q6placed at a predetermined grade from the grade stake. With thecounterbalance 94, the pressure exerted on the string 96 by theactuating rod 90 may be adjusted so that only a very small force isexerted on the string thus enabling the string to be easily maintainedat the predetermined set grade.

The rotation of the spool or spindle 48 and the drum 66 not onlyprovides the structure for reciprocating the spool or spindle but alsoserves to reduce the friction drag of the spindle or spool stem 48. Whenopera-ting earth working equipment having the present inventioninstalled therein, it is only necessary for the operator to let theactuating rod which is attached to the blade or earth working implementof the machine engage the string line or guide and then maintain afairly straight line of movement of the machine. The valve control willkeep the blade accurately corresponding with the level or grade of thestring line. The string line 96 controls the movement of the actuatingrod 90 thus determining the orientation of the axes of rotation of thetwo small rubber rollers or wheels 84 which engage the inner and outersurface of the drum. By changing the angle of rotation of the rollers inrelation to the axis of rotation of the drum due to movement of theactuating rod, the drum and spool stem, both of which are being rotated,are forced to the right or left depending upon the movement of theactuating rod. Thus, if the blade moves downwardly in relation to thestring line, the actuating rod engaging the string line will be causedto pivot thus causing the valve control to correct the action of theblades, that is, elevated in relation to the string or line thusmaintaining a constant elevational relationship between the string lineand the blade.

In actual practice, a four-way spool valve manufactured by VickersCompany has been employed having a reciprocatory movement ofapproximately inch. Thus, the pulley 56 moves only /8 inch from a centerposition which does not materially affect the operation of the belt 58which engages pulley 56 and a pulley on the hydraulic motor. With thistype of four-way hydraulic spool valve, a planer blade has beencontrolled accurately within tolerances of approximately /a of an incheven though the planer blade may weigh several thousand pounds. This hasbeen accomplished with less than two ounces of pressure exerted on thestring line by the actuating rod since the counterweight enables thespring rod to be substantially balanced with only a very light pressureon the string line.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

ll. A valve control adapted for use on an earth working machine of thetype having an elevatable tool and a fluid pressure mechanism forcontrolling the vertical position of the tool, said valve controlcomprising an actuating rod defining motion transmitting means andadapted to be movably supported from said machine and to lightly engagea reference line disposed in predetermined positions, 21 control valveadapted to be mounted on said machine and having an axially reciprocaland rotatable actuating spool, means for effecting rotation of saidspool, connecting means connected to said rod and engaged with the spooland including means operable in response to rotation of said spool foraxially reciprocating the spool in response to movement of said motiontransmitting means effected by its engagement with the reference line,one end of said spool being provided with a drum mounted for rotationtherewith and including inner and outer surfaces, said connecting meansincluding a pair of wheels engaging the inner and outer surfaces of thedrum respectively, means mounting said wheels for orienting the axes ofrotation thereof parallel to or in angular relation to the axis ofrotation of the drum and against displacement axially 0f the axis ofrotation of said spool whereby the drum and spool will be moved axiallywhen the axes of rotation of the wheels are angularly disposed inrelation to the axis of rotation of the drum.

2. The combination of claim it wherein said actuating rod includes aportion rigidly fixed to the mounting means for the wheels therebyconstituting the means for moving the valve spool in response to angulardisplacement of the actuating rod.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the control valve is mounted upona mounting plate, an extension shaft connected with the spool, a bearingblock carried by the plate and journaling said shaft, a pulley mountedon said shaft constituting said means for rotating said spool.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said valve includes a pair ofsupport brackets extending longitudinally of the axis of rotation ofsaid spool and outwardly of said valve, the free terminal end portionsof said brackets forming mounting means for supporting the mountingmeans for the wheels engaging the drum, said wheel mounting meansincluding a substantially U-shaped bracket having inwardly inturned endportions, the inwardly inturned end portions having axles mountedthereon and journaling the Wheels with the later engaging the inner andouter surfaces of the drum, and pivot means supporting the U'shapedbracket from the bracket carried by the valve.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said actuating rod is providedwith a counterweight for counterbalancing the rod so that a very smallforce may be applied to the reference line by the rod thereby enablingthe reference line to be more easily maintained on a present grade.

6. A control mechanism for a valve having a reciprocating and rotatingspindle, said mechanism comprising a drum having inner and outersurfaces and being adapted to be rigidly fixed to said spindle forrotation therewith, a pair of wheel means rollingly engaged with theinner and outer surfaces of the drum, means mounting said wheel meansfor orienting the axis of rotation of the wheel means parallel to or inangular relation to the axis of rotation of the drum and preventingdisplacement of said wheel means axially of the axis of rotation of saidspindle whereby the drum may be reciprocated during rotation thereofwhen the axis of rotation of the wheel means is displaced angularly inrelation to the axis of rotation of the drum, the axis of angulardisplacement of the wheel means intersecting the rotational axis of thedrum.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said wheel means includes a pairof wheels having rubber tires thereon, a support member carrying saidwheels and supporting the same for pivotal movement about an axisintersecting the axis of rotation of the drum, and means for rotatingsaid drum whereby angular displacement of the axes of rotation of thewheels in relation to the axis of rotation of the drum will cause axialdisplacement of the drum and the valve spindle connected thereto therebyproviding a control mechanism for the valve spindle.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said wheel support member isattached to an actuating rod adapted to engage a reference line set to apredetermined grade whereby the control mechanism and valve may bemounted on an earth working tool for controlling the position of theearth working tool in relation to the predetermined grade.

9. A valve control adapted for use on an earth working machine of thetype having an elevatable tool and a fluid pressure mechanism forcontrolling the vertical position of the tool, said valve controlcomprising an actuating rod defining motion transmitting means andadapted to be movably supported from said machine and to lightly engagea reference line disposed in predetermined position, a control valveadapted to be mounted on said machine and having an axially reciprocaland rotatable actuating spool, means for effecting rotation of saidspool, connecting means connected to said rod and engaged with the spooland including means operable in response to rotation of said spool foraxially reciprocating the spool in response to movement of said motiontransmitting means etfected by its engagement with the reference line,one end of said spool being provided with a drum including inner andouter surfaces, a pair of wheels engaging the inner and outer surfacesof the drum respectively, said means for axially reciprocating saidspool including means mounting said wheels for orienting the axes ofrotation thereof parallel to or in angular relation to the axis ofrotation of the drum and against displacement axially of the axis ofrotation of said spool, whereby the drum and spool will be moved axiallywhen the axis of rotation of the wheels are angularly disposed inrelation to the axis of rotation of the drum, a single radius of saiddrum intersecting with the portions of said drum engaged by said wheelsand the axes of rotation of said wheels.

10. The combination of claim 6 wherein a single radius of said drumintersects with the portions of said drum engaged by said wheels and theaxes of rotation of said wheels.

11. A valve control adapted for use on an earth working machine of thetype having an elevatable tool and a fluid pressure mechanism forcontrolling the position of the tool, said valve control comprising anactuating rod defining motion transmitting means and adapted to bemovably supported from said machine and to lightly engage a referenceline disposed in predetermined positions, a control valve adapted to bemounted on said machine and having an axially reciprocal and rotatableactuating spool, means for effecting rotation of said spool, connectingmeans connected to said rod and engaged with the spool and beingoperable in response to rotation of said spool for axially reciprocatingthe spool in response to movement of said motion transmitting meanseffected by its engagement with the reference line.

12. A control valve having an axially reciprocable and rotatableactuating spool, movable motion transmitting means having a portionthereof adapted to lightly engage a reference line disposed inpredetermined position, means connected to said motion transmittingmeans and engaged with the spool and being operable, in response torotation of said spool, for axially reciprocating the spool in responseto movement of said motion transmitting means effected by its engagementwith the reference line.

13. A valve control adapted for use in an earth working machine of thetype having an elevatable tool and a fluid pressure mechanism forcontrolling the position of the tool, said valve control comprising:movable motion transmitting means having a portion thereof adapted tolightly engage a reference line disposed in a predetermined position, acontrol valve having an axially reciprocable and rotatable actuatingspool, means for rotating said spool, connecting means connected to saidmotion transmitting means and rollingly engaged with the spool, andbeing operable, in response to rotation of said spool for axiallyreciprocating the spool in response to movement of said motiontransmitting means elfected by its engagement with the reference line.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,674 5/ l 889Judson 74-25 415,671 11/1889 Harris 91-331 853,785 5/1907 Henry 137--3311,908,396 5/1933 Albright 137-331 1,967,851 7/1934 Wilson 251--2152,083,774 6/ 1937 Campbell 2513 X 2,295,519 9/ 1942 Millikin 94-462,901,843 9/1959 Thomas 37108 2,908,292 10/1959 Beckett 13725l.3242,958,340 11/1960 Rosebrook 137625.69 3,002,502 10/ 1961 Szydlowski60-545 3,014,498 12/1961 Stephens 137612.1

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

MILTON KAUFMAN, BENJAMIN HERSH,

Examiners.

1. A VALVE CONTROL ADAPTED FOR USE ON AN EARTH WORKING MACHINE OF THE TYPE HAVING AN ELEVATABLE TOOL AND A FLUID PRESSURE MECHANISM FOR CONTROLLING THE VERTICAL POSITION OF THE TOOL, SAID VALVE CONTROL COMPRISING AN ACTUATING ROD DEFINING MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BE MOVABLY SUPPORTED FROM SAID MACHINE AND TO LIGHTLY ENGAGE A REFERENCE LINE DISPOSED IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS, A CONTROL VALVE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID MACHINE AND HAVING AN AXIALLY RECIPROCAL AND ROTATABLE ACTUATING SPOOL, MEANS FOR EFFECTING ROTATION OF SAID SPOOL, CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROD AND ENGAGED WITH THE SPOOL AND INCLUDING MEANS OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SPOOL FOR AXIALLY RECIPROCATING THE SPOOL IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS EFFECTED BY ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REFERENCE LINE, ONE END OF SAID SPOOL BEING PROVIDED WITH A DRUM MOUNT- 